Umahi Says Renewed Hope Infrastructure Funding Taking Care Of Many Road Projects 

Senator Dave Umahi, the Minister of Works, has stated that the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Infrastructure Funding is changing the dynamics of Nigerian road construction.

Umahi made the statement during an inter-ministerial press briefing in Abuja to commemorate Nigeria’s 64th anniversary of independence.

“We faced funding challenges, but thanks to Mr. President’s ingenuity, we introduced the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Funding, into which several projects have migrated.”

The Minister named several roads under this programme, including the Kaduna-Kano Road, the Benin-Warri Road, the Eleme-Onne Road, the Jos-Sokoto-Zamfara Road, and the East-West Road.

Senator Umahi stated that some roads, particularly those with high water tables, were being redesigned to extend their life span. “We have improved the design. I don’t know any federal highway that, after it was constructed, has lasted for ten years. It is because of the lack of project ethics and the development of our roads. You don’t use asphalt when you have a high water table when  constructing  roads “

He explained that previously constructed sections of East-West Road failed because asphalt was used even though the contractors were aware of the road’s high water table.

He stated that the road, as well as others in the South-South region and other regions, have been redesigned to use concrete in their construction.

The Minister revealed that the current administration inherited over two thousand, six hundred road projects with a value of thirteen trillion naira. He said no new projects would be embarked upon in 2025, adding that four projects would be earmarked for construction in each of the six geopolitical zones.

Senator also revealed that sixty three roads were being constructed by private sector operators under the federal government Tax Credit Scheme.

The Minister stated that the first section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will be completed by May of next year.

According to him, the road will relieve congestion at Apapa Wharf by connecting to the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Dangote Refinery, and the Petro Chemical Industry.

To commemorate Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary, the Minister stated that some of the 350 roads and bridges reconstructed with the 2023 N300 billion supplementary budget and are more than 85% complete will be inaugurated beginning next month.